John 6:1-24 ▼

1 After this Jesus went away across the Lake of Galilee (that is, the Lake of Tiberias)

2 A vast multitude followed Him, because they witnessed the miracles on the sick which He was constantly performing.

3 Then Jesus went up the hill, and sat there with His disciples.

4 The Jewish Festival, the Passover, was at hand.

5 And when He looked round and saw an immense crowd coming towards Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat?"

6 He said this to put Philip to the test, for He Himself knew what He was going to do.

7 "Seven pounds' worth of bread," replied Philip, "is not enough for them all to get even a scanty meal."

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,

9 "There is a boy here with five barley loaves and a couple of fish: but what is that among so many?"

10 "Make the people sit down," said Jesus. The ground was covered with thick grass; so they sat down, the adult men numbering about 5,000.

11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were resting on the ground; and also the fish in like manner--as much as they desired.

12 When all were fully satisfied, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the broken portions that remain over, so that nothing be lost."

13 Accordingly they gathered them up; and with the fragments of the five barley loaves--the broken portions that remained over after they had done eating--they filled twelve baskets.

14 Thereupon the people, having seen the miracle He had performed, said, "This is indeed the Prophet who was to come into the world."

15 Perceiving, however, that they were about to come and carry Him off by force to make Him a king, Jesus withdrew again up the hill alone by Himself.

16 When evening came on, His disciples went down to the Lake.

17 There they got on board a boat, and pushed off to cross the Lake to Capernaum. By this time it had become dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.

18 The Lake also was getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing.

19 When, however, they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming near the boat.

20 They were terrified; but He called to them. "It is I," He said, "do not be afraid."

21 Then they were willing to take Him on board; and in a moment the boat reached the shore at the point to which they were going.

22 Next morning the crowd who were still standing about on the other side of the Lake found that there had been but one small boat there, and they had seen that Jesus did not go on board with His disciples, but that His disciples went away without Him.

23 Yet a number of small boats came from Tiberias to the neighbourhood of the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

24 When however the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they themselves also took boats and came to Capernaum to look for Jesus.